Impact of the Care Act on the Adult Social Care Workforce
Jo David ADASS
Anna McCreadieSuffolk County Council
Workforce: Critical to Implementation
• A piece of reforming legislation – opportunity to develop and promote a change in culture and practice
• Much of the Act consolidates good practice and existing policy in statute
• But … new statutory duties and responsibilities likely to require an increase in workforce capacity and/or new roles and ways of working
• Analysis and planning needs to start now
Understanding the Impact on the Workforce
• Review CA policy, duties and responsibilities against current local practice
• Identify and scope potential workforce capacity, skills and knowledge gaps
• Determine operational approach – council delivered function or commissioned / delegated
• Recruit / train or commission / contract
Key areas for staff training and development
• Basic understanding / awareness of the overarching principles of the Care Act – wider workforce, key council and external partners
• High level legal training – senior managers and social workers, social care lawyers
• Culture change – best practice - implications for social work practice – senior managers, social workers, commissioners
Key areas where the Act likely to affect workforce capacity
• Assessments and support plans - significant increase in demand for assessments expected, particularly Carers
2015/16• Universal Deferred Payments – councils likely to need to
expand DPA function and train key staff• Right in law to a direct payment – councils currently with low
numbers may need to expand function and strengthen back office
2016/17• funding reform and care accounts
Partnerships and Dependencies
• Closer planning, collaboration and integration with health, housing
• Integration of health and social care integration• Responsibility for social care needs of prisoners-
significant impact for councils with one or more prisons within their boundaries
• Safeguarding –new legal framework and statutory duty
Councils will need to assess current practice, identify gaps and plan to meet their new responsibilities.
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